Ellen married William Jennings Demorest. Their marriage formed the foundation for their successful business partnership. William was a dry goods merchant.

Ellen and William worked closely together to build and manage their fashion empire. William's business skills complemented Ellen's design and fashion expertise. Their collaboration was essential for the company's growth and success.

As the buisness started falling down, it's quite possible that the relationships between the couple started taking strain due to the financial challenges. This is however just a speculation.